Have you ever been bothered by a small lump of flesh hanging from your skin, or a wart on your arm or leg? Sometimes you can't figure out what to do to get rid of it. Today, we're going to talk about a very simple and effective treatment that can be used for things like that, as well as more serious conditions. This is called Cryotherapy.
Simply put, what is Cryotherapy?
Cryotherapy is, literally, a treatment that uses extreme cold, much colder than ice, to freeze and destroy abnormal tissue in your body. To be precise, these cells die because of this extreme cold.
To create this extreme cold, your doctor will usually use a substance like liquid nitrogen or argon gas . This treatment can be done on the surface of the skin (externally) or on problems inside the body (internally). Some people also call this treatment ``Cryoablation``.
Why do doctors choose this treatment method?
The main reason this is such a popular treatment is that it is minimally invasive. That is, it does not involve major surgery . As a result, there is less pain and a shorter recovery time than with conventional surgery. Most people can return to their normal activities immediately after this treatment.
Here are some situations in which a doctor may suggest this treatment to you:
- Skin conditions: Remove things like warts, skin tags, or dark spots on the skin.
- Pre-cancerous cells: Destroy cells that may develop into cancer in the cervix.
- Skin cancer: Treat early stages of skin cancer, especially types such as `(squamous cell carcinoma)` and `(basal cell carcinoma)`.
- Other cancers: Treat some types of cancerous tumors that occur inside the body, such as liver cancer, prostate cancer, and bone cancer.
- Eye cancer in children: This method is also used to treat a cancer called ``retinoblastoma`` that develops in the retina of the eye in children.
How exactly does this treatment work?
The basic principle is very simple. The cells in our body cannot withstand extreme cold. In cryotherapy, something like liquid nitrogen is applied to the area where the abnormal cells are located, instantly freezing the cells. When the cells are unable to withstand this extreme cold, the water inside the cells turns into ice cubes, causing the cell membranes to burst and die.
After treatment, the dead cells are naturally removed from the body. Depending on the method used, the results may vary.
| Treatment method | How it's done and what happens |
|---|---|
| External Cryotherapy | For a mole or a fleshy lump on the skin, the doctor uses a cotton swab or a special spraying device to apply liquid nitrogen to the area. After the treatment, the area heals, and a day later, a small blister appears, a crust forms, and it falls off, revealing new, healthy skin. |
| Internal Cryotherapy | When treating a cancerous tumor inside the body, the doctor makes a small incision in the skin and inserts a thin tube-like device called a cryoprobe through it. This device sends extremely cold air to the tumor. The dead cells are gradually cleaned and removed by our body's own immune system. |
Do I need to prepare before treatment?
This depends on the type of treatment you are receiving.
- For external treatments, there is usually no need for much preparation. You can come in as normal.
- For internal treatments, your doctor will give you specific instructions. For example:
- You may be asked to stop taking blood-thinning medications like aspirin for a few days. Be sure to discuss this with your doctor and follow their instructions.
- You may be asked to refrain from eating or drinking for a few hours before the treatment.
- You can ask to arrange for someone to take you home after treatment.
The most important thing is to ask your doctor about any questions or concerns you may have before the treatment. This will give you a lot of peace of mind.
What can you expect after treatment?
The condition after treatment also varies depending on the type of treatment.
After a skin surface treatment
The treated area will initially be red and may have a small blister. This is normal, don't worry. After about three days, any minor pain will go away. Then a scab will form over the area, which will fall off within one to three weeks, revealing new skin. It's like a small wound healing.
After treatment inside the body
You may feel some pain or discomfort in the treated area for about three days. Women who have had this treatment on their cervix may have a watery discharge for a few days or weeks. This is also normal.
What are the benefits and side effects of this treatment?
As with any medical treatment, there are benefits as well as very small risks.
| Pros | Risks and side effects (Risks/Cons) |
|---|---|
| Less pain than traditional surgery. | When the cervix is treated, slight bleeding or pain may occur. |
| Bleeding is very minimal. | Very rarely, nerve damage and numbness can occur. |
| Damage to healthy cells is minimal. | The treated area becomes swollen, infected, or leaves a scar. |
| You can recover quickly and don't need to stay in the hospital. | Very rarely, bone fractures can occur during bone treatment. |
When should I see the doctor again?
There are usually no major problems after treatment. However, if you see signs of infection, you should definitely see a doctor.
Keep an eye out for these signs:
- If the treated area becomes very red
- If something like pus comes out of there
- If you get a fever for no reason
Also, if after a skin treatment, the previous problem (itch, fleshy lump) still seems to be there even after the wound has healed, tell your doctor about that too. Sometimes, you may need to have another treatment to fully heal.
Take-Home Message
- Cryotherapy is a highly effective and safe treatment that uses extreme cold to destroy abnormal cells.
- It is used for a wide range of ailments, from minor things like skin warts and moles to some types of cancer.
- Since this is not a major surgery, there is less pain and you can recover quickly.
- Follow your doctor's instructions carefully before and after treatment.
- If signs of infection (severe redness, pus, fever) occur after treatment, seek medical advice immediately.
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